Sen. Kirk has his gallbladder removed

On Saturday morning, Kirk checked into Northwestern Lake Forest Hospital, located north of Chicago, and reported having stomach pains, his office said in a statement.

“Doctors determined that, due to the fact that he had gall stones, his gall bladder needed to be removed. This morning Senator Kirk underwent a successful surgery to have his gall bladder removed and is resting comfortably. His doctor expects a quick recovery."

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Kirk, 54, suffered from a stroke in January of 2012, which required him to take a year-long leave of absence from Congress to recover.

His speech and mobility were affected as a result, but therapy has helped him make a comeback.

This January, Kirk returned to the Senate. Early last month, he delivered his first floor speech since his stroke.

Kirk previously served in the House for nearly a decade. In 2010, he won two concurrent elections to take the Senate seat left open by then-President Obama.